MetroStars Set to Host Chicago Fire in Wednesday's 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final

Oct 13, 2003

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Monday, October 13, 2003)– The MetroStars of Major League Soccer will host the Chicago Fire also of Major League Soccer this Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. for the final of the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised live on Fox Sports World.

The host MetroStars are seeking to hoist its first championship trophy in the club’s eight years of existence, while the Chicago Fire have won the U.S. Open Cup twice, with wins coming in their inaugural season of 1998 and also 2000. Chicago will be looking to break the road jinx in recent Open Cup finals. Since MLS teams joined the competition in 1996, the home team is 5-0-0 in final games, with two games played at neutral sites.

Tickets for the match are all $25 and are available for all MetroStars games at the Continental Airlines Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster by phone for callers in New Jersey (201-507-8900), New York (212-307-7171), and for Spanish-speaking customers throughout New York and New Jersey (212-307-4757).

MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara leads all scores in the 2003 Open Cup with four goals and two assists. Two of those goals were game-winners, and he also posted a game-winning assist. The MetroStars entered the 2003 tournament in the third round, beating the Mid Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League 4-1. The MetroStars then became the first team to beat three MLS teams (Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, D.C. United) en route to an appearance in the final. Through that stretch of games, the team's depth was tested and passed the test – with 11 different players recording at least one point.

The Chicago Fire entered the 2003 Open Cup in the fourth round with a 4-1 win over Milwaukee Wave United of the A-League, before topping the Colorado Rapids and the Los Angeles Galaxy to earn a finals appearance. DaMarcus Beasley and Ante Razov have led the Fire attack in the tournament, each posting two goals and one assist. Seven other players on the roster have also posted an Open Cup point this season.